Design and Validation of an Indigenous Model for Transparency and Anti-Corruption Policymaking in Afghanistan’s Government Organizations

Abstract

The present study aimed to design and validate an indigenous model for transparency and anti-corruption policymaking in Afghanistan’s government organizations. In terms of purpose, the study was applied-developmental, and in terms of approach, it employed a mixed-methods design integrating qualitative and quantitative analyses. The study covered the period from 2004 to 2021. The required data were collected through the analysis of 64 documents, including laws and regulations, decrees and resolutions, strategies and policy documents, executive programs, and domestic and international reports; semi-structured interviews with 20 experts; and the examination of secondary quantitative data. In the qualitative phase, data analysis resulted in the extraction of 348 initial codes, 86 concepts, 26 subcategories, and 10 main categories, which were ultimately organized into five dimensions: political; institutional and structural; legal and implementation-related; social and cultural; and indigenization and contextual fit. The quantitative findings indicated that 45 major legal, policy, strategic, and institutional measures concerning transparency and anti-corruption were undertaken during the study period, with the concentration of formal measures increasing toward the final years of the period. Nevertheless, this increase was not accompanied by sustained improvement in corruption and governance indicators. Integration of the quantitative and qualitative findings revealed that the policy–implementation gap, limited institutional independence and capacity, weak interorganizational coordination, selective enforcement of laws, the influence of informal networks, limited accountability, and the incompatibility of some policies with local conditions were among the most significant challenges in anti-corruption policymaking. The final model emphasizes the interaction among political commitment, institutional independence and capacity, legal coherence, implementation coordination, non-selective enforcement, transparency, accountability, social participation, monitoring, and policy learning, while indigenization was incorporated as a cross-cutting consideration across all components. Validation of the model by 12 experts also confirmed the appropriateness of the proposed structure. Overall, the findings demonstrated that sustainable anti-corruption efforts require a transition from fragmented measures toward a coherent, coordinated, implementation-oriented policymaking system adapted to Afghanistan’s contextual conditions.